Isaiah 60

Notes

Ver. 1, 2. Be enlightened, comforted, and glorious, O church, for not only is thy deliverance out of Babylon effected, but the Son of God is come in our nature, to enlighten the world, and glorify God in the salvation of men. And though multitudes were lying, or still remain, in depths of ignorance, wickedness, and misery, Jesus shall show his glory, through the gospel, among you. 3-14. The accession of proselytes, and bounty of kings and princes, to the Jewish church, after their return from Babylon, shall be no more than an earnest of the multitudes of princes and others, even of the most savage nations, that shall heartily accede to the gospel church, and devote their substance to, and labours in, the service of it. 15-22. And great shall be her honour, stable and lasting her joys, abundant her prosperity, excellent her ordinances, gifts, and graces, upright and peaceful her officers, complete her joys, lasting and divine her glory, eminently pure, holy, happy, and numerous her members, and quick her enlargement—all because of their faith in Christ.

Ver. 1. Arise, shine. This is a prophecy of the birth and ministry of Jesus, in whom was 'light,' and in whose reflected splendour Zion is called to shine. C.

Ver. 3. The 'wise men from the East' that came to Jerusalem to inquire after the birth of Jesus, tradition pronounces to have been kings. If so, kings literally came to the 'brightness of his rising.' But be this as it may, the prediction was fully verified on the accession of Constantine to the Roman empire. C.

Ver. 4. Thy sons. Thy adopted sons shall come 'from far' among the Gentiles; others, like daughters, 'shall be nursed at thy side,' in thine own bed, upon thine own arm. C.

Ver. 6. Midian was the most celebrated son of Keturah. What Judah became among the tribes of Israel, Midian became among the tribes of Arabia. The Midianites were for ages the dominant people, and virtual rulers of Arabia. The nucleus of the nation was on the eastern border of Edom; but they spread thence westward through the Sinai peninsula, and eastward to the Euphrates. The caravan trade between Central and Western Asia appears to have been chiefly in their hands.—Ephah was one of the sons of Midian, and the founder of a distinguished tribe. P.

Ver. 7. Kedar was the second, and Nebaioth the eldest son of Ishmael. The former appears to have settled in Central Arabia, and his descendants were among the chief nomads of that wide country. The Nabatheans probably had their earliest settlements on the banks of the Euphrates. In later times they migrated westward, drove out the Edomites, and took possession of their wild mountain home. The splendid rock temples and palaces of Petra were chiefly their work. P.—Rams of Nebaioth shall minister. The ascription of rational service to the flocks shows that in this prediction the camels, &c., are emblematic of the people of their several countries offering to God the sacrifice of prayer and of praise, through Jesus Christ, in that spiritual 'Mount Zion and heavenly Jerusalem' to which every believer is gone up, He. 12. 22. But that they also include the temporal restoration of Zion and Israel, as a great central light of truth, other parts of the prediction seem clearly to intimate. See ver. 10, 15. C.

Ver. 12. This does not mean political submission, but religious service; and the nation that serves Christ serves Zion: all others shall perish, Ps. 2. 8,9, 12. C.

Ver. 19. This blessed period of national order, peace, and light, corresponds to that glorious vision of John, Re. 21. 23, 27. The Lord hasten it in his time! C.

Ver. 21. All righteous. All, as Abraham, who 'believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.' None can be righteous but by the 'righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ,' Ro. 3. 10, 22. C.

Reflections.—Where sin had abounded grace much more abounds; and, through Jesus' sacrifice reigns unto eternal life, where sin had reigned unto death. But they who live destitute of the gospel are plunged into the greatest misery and darkness. And infinite is the mercy when Jesus Christ, the light of life and the glory of his people, manifests himself in his incarnation and ordinances. The remarkable favour of God, the clear light of the gospel, and the shining lives of professors, powerfully attract members to the church. And with inexpressible pleasure and wonder do the lovers of Christ behold men crowding to him as their refuge, and to the ordinances of his grace. And if we truly give him our heart, we shall liberally employ our wealth, honour, and influence for promoting his cause. How abundant and constant is the access of sinful men to Jesus and his gospel church! Quickly and truly would he turn her corruption, contempt, poverty, oppression, and misery, into holiness, comfort, honour, wealth, happiness, and peace. What then must heaven be, where no evil can enter, and where God himself shall be our everlasting light, our everlasting glory, and our all in all.